• Richard Brull, Anahi Perlas, and Vincent W S Chan.
• Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 2S8, Canada. richard.brull@uhn.on.ca
• Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2007 Feb 1; 11 (1): 25-32.

AbstractPeripheral nerve blockade (PNB) for orthopedic surgery is usually performed without visual guidance, relying mainly on surface anatomic landmarks and electrical stimulation to localize nerves. Moreover, multiple trial and error attempts to place a needle can frustrate the operator, cause unwarranted pain to the patient, and waste valuable time in the operating room. Inaccurate needle placement and spread of local anesthetic account for most PNB failures, whereas "trial and error" needle manipulations for nerve localization can cause complications. The recent application of ultrasound (US) to PNB affords real-time imaging of the target nerve, needle, and surrounding vasculature, such that needle proximity to the nerve is ensured and vascular puncture avoided. This article reviews the advantages, principles, and techniques of US for the most common types of PNB.

15 keywords...

hide…